ANYWHEREUSAPressNotes
Transcription
ANYWHEREUSAPressNotes
ANYWHERE USA “Anywhere U.S.A. reduces every audience that sees it into a delighted, giggling mob. The talented cast of non-professionals reminds one of what the word , ‘amateur’ really means: to love. As silly, provocative, risky and downright loose-screwed as Mr. Haney-Jardine and his cast are, the sense that they did this movie out of love-- love for the weird, love for the unsayable idea, love for the privilege of movie making-- proved to be one of the most moving experiences at the Sundance Film Festival. It reminds one of the joy of sitting in an audience of strangers while everyone laughs hysterically.” dâxÇà|Ç gtÜtÇà|ÇÉ ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 1 ANYWHERE USA j|ÇÇxÜ fÑxv|tÄ ]âÜç cÜ|éx wÜtÅtà|v vÉÅÑxà|à|ÉÇ A CHUSY FILM fâÇwtÇvx ECCK SUNDANCE CINEQUEST PHILADELPHIA CALGARY INDIE BRAZIL CANCUN LONDON BFI STOCKHOLM WWW.ANYWHEREUSATHEMOVIE.COM ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 2 ANYWHERE USA SYNOPSIS cÜxáá aÉàxá In a trailer deposited in an unkempt pastoral glade, a woman who used to be an alternate on her high school tennis team beats her boyfriend senseless once a week. She beats him, cause, well he deserves it. It’s his act of redneck contrition…. Meanwhile, an eight-year-old girl finds accidental elucidation; the sort of awakening that makes her wonder if that guy next door driving the ‘89 Subaru is, in fact, the guy she thinks it is…. On the other side of the tracks, over there where posh beards, Kobe beef steaks and manicured gardens go hand in hand, a man of privilege has an epiphany at the dinner table that ultimately leads to a contusion and a revelation. Told in three subtly related segments (Penance, Loss, and Ignorance), ANYWHERE USA is a du jour portrait of one man’s America inspired by and drawn from the director’s own experiences as both foreigner and citizen of these United States. Featuring a cast of mostly non-professionals and exploring passive racism, geo-political vagaries, good intentions, faith and disappointment, this deeply personal film manages to tread the lines between vulgar and humane, between absurd and tender, and finds its heart in the story segment featuring the director’s own daughter and a man living in a van. Part satire, part tragedy, part masterpiece theatre gone awry, ANYWHERE USA is a comedy of manners that defies gravity. ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 3 ANYWHERE USA cÜxáá aÉàxá DIRECTOR STATEMENT When I set out to make my movie I emptied my head altogether of expectations and accepted the fact that I was going to use whatever I could find around me to put together a story. I wasn’t going to fight the fact that I had intellectual and financial limitations, so I fashioned a movie based on the principle of found objects, themes, and people. In fact, this film is about as close to a found film as you can make it without becoming an exercise in aleatory assembly-- an accidental collage. I cast people from the streets of my hometown, Asheville, North Carolina and tried to use talent, music, objects, and locales within my reach. Because my cast was comprised almost entirely of non-professionals, I decided to create the film in situ. In other words I created it on the spot. I am not suggesting, however, that this is an improvised film. Far from it. Every word was pre-written. Only thing is that I often wrote the script with my wife hours and even minutes before shooting each day, based on whatever and whomever we could find on the day. For the record, this film was inspired by a chair. made of pieces of found wood. à{x V{t|Ü ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 4 ANYWHERE USA DIRECTOR’S BIO V{âáç cÜxáá aÉàxá Born and raised in Venezuela, Chusy has lived in Europe, Latin America and the USA. He has put his febrile imagination to work as a bag boy, translator, video clerk, “marketing representative,” copywriter, art director, executive creative director, teacher and commercial director. Chusy attended the director’s program at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, California and received an MFA in directing. There he made, MONKEY PARK, a short film starring Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer and Ray Wise. He is married to the producer of ANYWHERE USA and is the proud father of two gorgeous children, one whom starred in ANYWHERE USA. ANYWHERE USA is his first feature film. He wrote, directed, and edited the movie. ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 5 ANYWHERE USA CRAZY STUFF cÜxáá aÉàxá When you make a movie in situ, you’re inviting some craziness. Here’s a small anecdotal list of craziness you might find interesting. When I set out to make the movie, a tick bit me in the ass and I contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. You do not want to contract Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I fell into a coma as the tick attacked my central nervous system and production had to be halted. I lost a 1/4 of my budget and about 12 percent of my mind A lot of my cast was on parole. Nuff said on that one. The lead actor in the second story was our production assistant. He was living in a van when we met him and he applied for the job as P.A. with mismatched socks and a curriculum vitae that was a 1/2 page run-on sentence, speckled with grease, presumably from fries. When we were at a Toyota dealership my four-year-old son, Lux, was laughing at a kid his height who was smoking and had tattoos. When I told him that the kid was a man, a little man, my son started laughing. I made him go apologize to the 3 foot 4 man and the rest is history. Watch Little Ricky’s performance in the first story entitled, PENANCE. The film was made by a family. Dad wrote, directed, and edited. Mom produced and wrote. Sissy acted and did all the costumes design (she was eight when we made the film!). We put up our house to make the film. I realized at Sundance that the film, from conception to presentation had consumed half my son’s life. The cast comes from the streets of Asheville, North Carolina. From Walmarts, Subway Sandwich Shops, and Applebee’s to mention a few fertile grounds for casting. Mary Griffin who plays Tammy in the first story was discovered working in a convenience store. ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 6 ANYWHERE USA cÜxáá aÉàxá UPCOMING SCREENINGS, DATES & VENUES CALGARY FRIDAY SEPT. 26 @ 7:00 P.M. WESTHILLS THEATRE SUNDAY SEPT. 28 @ 7:00 P.M. UPTOWN STAGE & SCREEN INDY BRAZIL CANCUN LONDON BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE FRIDAY OCT. 24 @ 11;15 P.M. NFT1 STOCKHOLM ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 7 ANYWHERE USA CREW BIOS cÜxáá aÉàxá JENNIFER MACDONALD. Co-writer and Producer. Jennifer has held several jobs in front of and behind the camera. She has produced plays and commercials, traveled the world, studied and worked as an Arabic linguist. Additionally she speaks Spanish and Portuguese. On ANYWHERE USA she produced, cast, cooked, co-wrote, and posted bail. ANYWHERE USA marks her debut as feature film producer. PATRICK ROUSSEAU. Cinematographer. Patrick left a career in engineering to become a cinematographer. For the past ten years he has been working as a camera operator on such films and TV shows as Freedom Writers, Six Feet Under, and Arrested Development. This is his fourth feature film. HEATHER WINTERS. Executive Producer. Heather Winters is a producer/writer and most recently co-Executive Produced Morgan Spurlock’s Academy Award® nominated documentary film, SUPER SIZE ME. Heather is the co-writer and producer of the critically acclaimed documentary, CLASS ACT (Arts Alliance America, 2007) about the decline of arts and creativity in American public schools. Heather has produced several feature films and began her production experience in television as an assistant to the legendary animation team, Rankin/Bass. Her television series credits include THUNDERCATS, SILVERHAWKS, THE COMIC STRIP and the first season of MTV's, REAL WORLD. An accomplished writer and musician, Winters is a native of Miami Beach and a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. Her company, STUDIO-ON-HUDSON, founded in 2000 with producing partner Joe Morley, specializes in the production and financing of independent feature films, documentaries, television and theatre projects. Awards include 2007 Best Documentary Artivist Film Festival, 2007 First Place Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2004 TELLY® Award, 2003 PLATINUM BEST IN SHOW AURORA Award, 2000 CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FIRST PLACE Award, 2000 U.S. INTERNATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL, and multiple awards of creative excellence. JOE MORLEY. Executive Producer. Executive Producer and Co-Writer of CLASS ACT, Joe is a partner in STUDIO-ON-HUDSON with Producer Heather Winters. He shares the co-Executive Producer credits on the STUDIO-ON-HUDSON film THE PARTY HEADS, and the Sundance award winning and Academy Award® nominated documentary, SUPER SIZE ME. An accomplished writer/producer in his own right, Joe has produced more than 100 live events and video projects. He is a working playwright whose scripts are seen in the off Broadway theaters. ANDY O’NEIL. Co-Producer. b. Richmond, VA. 1982. Asheville resident since 1983. BA in film, UNC Greensboro. First job, not at the mall. Drives a '98 Toyota Corolla. High School swim captain and Scrabble Tournament champion ’04. ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 8 ANYWHERE USA ACTOR BIOS cÜxáá aÉàxá MARY GRIFFIN (TAMMY) Currently works as a maid in a retirement home. She is a voracious reader and the mother of two. This is her first acting role. MIKE ELLIS (GENE) Born and raised in western North Carolina, Mike works as a carpenter and in construction. He enjoys classic rock. This is his first acting role. MOLLY SURRETT (MOLLY) Currently works as a secretary. She is a North Carolina native and the proud mother of two children. She enjoys NASCAR racing. This is her first acting role. SHELIAH RAY HIPPS (SHEILAH) Born and raised in Western North Carolina, Sheliah works as a dog groomer. She enjoys horseback riding and motorcycles and wants you to know that she is hyper. This is her first acting role. BRIAN FOX (LITTLE RICKY) Born and raised in Western North Carolina, Brian has a stand up comic act that he performs in front of audiences east of the Mississippi. Brian is 3 feet 4 tall. If you think he’s short, think again. This is his first acting role. RAFAT ABU-GOUSH (ALI) Born in Jordan. Raised in Jordan and Palestine, Rafat was managing a Subway Sandwich shop when we cast him in Anywhere. He is a graduate of Amman Hospitality School and enjoys classic cars. This is his first acting role. PERLA HANEY-JARDINE (PEARL) Was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She started her acting career in commercials her daddy directed. Her first film role was as B. B., Uma Thurman’s daughter in Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL VOLUME 2. Since then she has appeared in Walter Salles’ remake of DARK WATER, Sam Raimi’s SPIDERMAN 3, UNTRACEABLE with Diane Lane and most recently she starred in Michael Winterbottom’s new film, GENOVA. She did her dad a favor by appearing in ANYWHERE USA. ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 9 ANYWHERE USA ACTOR BIOS (cont’d) cÜxáá aÉàxá JEREMIAH BRENNAN (JEREMIAH) Born in New York and raised in South Carolina, Jeremiah works odd jobs in restaurants and is currently working as a production assistant. This is his first acting role. RALPH BRIERLEY (RALPH) Originally from California, Ralph currently works as a financial analyst. Ralph’s been involved in community theatre in one way or another for 35 years. This is Ralph’s first film acting role. DIANNE CHAPMAN (DIANNE) Is retired from theatre management. Dianne now works on many local theatre productions. This is her first film acting role. ELLIS ROBINSON (ELLIS) Was born and raised in Western North Carolina. He is in high school. He is on the debate team. Now that he’s acted in his first movie he’s into plays at his high school. This is his first acting role. SUSIE GREENE (PAT THE REALTOR) An Asheville native, Susie Greene attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NY. In addition to raising a 17 year-old, Susie loves to sing and is an ordained wedding minister. FRANK AVERY (FRANK A.K.A. DR. GOOGLE) Frank is a retired navy captain who found stage acting as his second-calling. His roles as 'Tevye', 'Willie Loman', 'Big Daddy' and 'Falstaff' are samplings of nearly 50 shows in 20yrs. GENE HAMPTON (GENE) Gene is a social activist in the Western North Carolina. This is his first acting role. ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 10 ANYWHERE USA cÜxáá aÉàxá CREDITS FILMMAKERS Director Writer Director of Photography Editor Chusy Chusy Jennifer MacDonald Jennifer MacDonald Joe Morley Heather Winters Patrick Rousseau Chusy CAST Mary Griffin Mike Ellis Brian Fox Molly Surrett Sheliah Ray Hipps Jeremiah Brennan Perla Haney-Jardine Ralph Brierley Dianne Chapman Ellis Robinson Virato Sophia Tager Jack Legwin Chusy Crazzy Keith Glenda McDowell Gene Hampton Al Al Ingram Jonathan Lucas Éowyn Lucas Anne Fitten Glenn Tammy Gene Ricky Molly Sheliah Jeremiah Pearl Ralph Dianne Ellis Narrator Sophia Boy in Bookstore Randy Wells Barkeep Glenda Gene Al Al Tooth Fairy Éowyn Lucas Waitress Producer Executive Producer EXTRAS Anne Batchelder Holly Baungartner Sequoia Rose Baumgartner Dave Bragg ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 11 ANYWHERE USA cÜxáá aÉàxá CREDITS (CONT’D) EXTRAS (CONT’D) Paula Cooper Hedy Fischer Chusy Lauren Fortuna Brandon Goodwin James Graziano Dave MacDonald Jennifer MacDonald Andrew Moore Debbie Morrow Robert Morrow Andy O’Neil Jack Ramshaw Patrick Rousseau Perla Santiago Jesus Cerecedo Tellez Julian Vorus Casting Assistant Casting Jennifer MacDonald Lauren Fortuna & Emily Maynard Costumes Lila Zimmerman Perla Haney-Jardine Co-producer Associate Producer Asst. Director Andy O’Neil Joshua Tager Dave Bragg Scott Reese Camera Operator B-Camera Operator Dave Bragg Shane Peters Asst. Camera Grip/Electric Grip/Electric Sound Recordist Boom Operator Jack Ramshaw Tony Holderfield Meiklejohn “Emjay” Pate Brandon Goodwin Jon Orr Producer’s Assistant/Doc Sabrina Hilario ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 12 ANYWHERE USA cÜxáá aÉàxá CREDITS (CONT’D) Art Director Product Design Assistant Art Dept. Laura Reese Bob Zimmerman Jack Ramshaw FX Make Up and Makeup Rob Edmonson Amy Kobos Satori Kirsch Monica Nolan Still Photographer Digital Photographer Pilar Belmonte Steve Mann Weapons/Stunts Radio Control Stunts Special Rigging Script Supervisor/Props Pat Donovan Steve Conner Gene Loden & Wendi McEachern Andrew Moore Catering Traci Taylor Margaret Lauzon Ginger Hebeisen Key PA PAs/Runners Jeremiah Brennan Jerry ter Horst Aaron Saenger Greg Hudgins Margaret Lauzon Dustin Cassels Katie Kasben Nathan Hall Music Supervisor Original Music Chusy Arizona Juan Benavides Holiday Childress Chusy Bryan Rhuede Chris Rosser Jason Smith ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 13 ANYWHERE USA cÜxáá aÉàxá CREDITS (CONT’D) Music Performers Ashley Chambliss Joe Ebel River Guerguerian Maria Marquez Chris Rosser Manuela Soler Eliot Wadopian Holiday Chiildress Chusy Post Production Optimus Post Supervisor Post Prod. Technical Director Colorist Flame Artist Audio Engineer Foley Artist/Audio Assistant Additional Visual Effects Asst. Editor ADR/Foley HD Consultant HD Editing System Supplier Gretchen Praeger Ken Winke Ken Wald Greg Huber Joel Anderson Ryan Cybul Robert Klein Andy O’Neil Bruce Sales Harmony Interiors Advanced Data Network Solutions BetaCam SP Transfer See No Evil Films, Asheville Production Legal LLC Legal Smith Dornan & Dehn John Anderson Henry Ward Dick Lupo Chad Warpula Tax Consultant Guy Clerici Accounting Cindy Amiot Brad Burlingham Payroll Services McBee Payroll ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 14 ANYWHERE USA cÜxáá aÉàxá CREDITS (CONT’D) Distribution Advisor Distribution Legal Services PR Josh Braun/Submarine Entertainment Roger E. Kass Murphy PR/John Murphy & Jessica Edwards Grip & Electric Rental Generator Expendables Camera Supplier Silver Hammer Studios, Charlotte, NC Sunbelt Rentals, Charlotte, NC Hollywood Rentals, Charlotte, NC WH Platts, Charlotte, NC Production Insurance Workers’ Compensation Film Emporium, NY Insurance Services of Asheville Very Special Thanks Steve Wilmans Jennifer Wilmans Pete Wilmans Nick & Joey Phillip Broughton & David L. Smith Minda Burroughs Karen & Guy Clerici Hedy Fischer Garth Franklin David Goldring Pilar & Tom Hartmann Giselle Kovac Tom Kilby & Monica Nolan Rob Pulleyn Cherry Lentz Saenger Paul Lentz Saenger Marcy & Scott Sirkin Randy Shull Marvin Slosman Joshua Tager Seth Tager Robert Zimmerman Special Thanks Anne Batchelder Chris Cassels Andrew Glasgow Carl Haney Richard Haney Virgil Haney ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 15 ANYWHERE USA CREDITS (CONT’D) Special Thanks (cont’d) cÜxáá aÉàxá JD Kramer (Octane Crew) Erika Landolfi Dr. No No Frank Marshall Sarah Moessner Neal Reed Sweet Biscuit Inn Erica Sandin Arturo Smith Scott Varn Andrew Wagner Panasonic (Jan M. Crittenden) Big Bridge (Stephen Lutz & Shawn Peters) Fine Arts Theatre, Asheville Charlotte Street Computers NC Film Commission (Aaron Syrett) WNC Film Commission (Mary Trimarco) Thank you to all the local business of Asheville, NC that donated their time, money, and food. For a complete list of these businesses, please visit our website at www.anywhereusathemovie.com. ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 16 ANYWHERE USA PRESS QUOTES SUNDANCE 2008 cÜxáá aÉàxá “…there might just be some genius there. God help us.” Moriarty Aint It Cool News “Haney-Jardine’s film mixes striking still photos, text overlaid the images on the screen, a wry sense of the absurd in the everyday, the capacity to see the banal in the extraordinary, and the capacity to find the extraordinary in the everyday.” James Rocchi Cinematical “Haney-Jardine has a rich sense of the absurd.” James Rocchi Cinematical “…a quirky regional comedy that doesn’t quite resemble anything else you’ve seen.” Stephen Farber Hollywood Reporter “…points for wackiness and sheer insane glee.” Stephen Farber Hollywood Reporter “…easily the funniest movie of the festival that skewers NASCAR and pistachio nuts with oddball aplomb.” CanWest Katherine Monk “High Art crashes into THE DUKES OF HAZZARD…the most unusual of the dramatic competition films at this year’s SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.” Steve Ramos indieWIRE “…very strange and very funny.” Moriarty Aint It Cool News ANYWHERE USA PRESS NOTES/PAGE 17